Amnesty Decree

Qinghe District Tribunal Head Yan Shicheng stared at the "Indentured Servitude Contract" practically plastered against his face, the muscles on his scarred face twitching.

M

He had moved quickly enough, but he had still been one step too late. That old bastard had already gotten the boy to sign!

It had not been easy to come across such a promising young man.

The Tribunal Head slammed a hand on the table.

"Riiip—"

A chilling crack rang through the cramped room!

A crimson arc of lightning burst out of nowhere, instantly shredding the contract to pieces.

The sight made Gu Shen's scalp tingle. As expected, this Tribunal Head was also a powerhouse who wielded Transcendent power... He had personally witnessed Mr. Shu seal A-009. Judging by the way these two were at each other's throats, they were probably longtime rivals.

Gu Shen guessed that the Tribunal Head's strength was likely on par with Mr. Shu's.

Mr. Shu was remarkably magnanimous. He spread his hands indifferently. "A copy. Tear it up if you want."

"Zhou Jiren!" the Tribunal Head barked. "Do you dare fight me fair and square? What kind of skill is it to resort to tricks like this?"

Zhou Jiren.

So Mr. Shu's name was Zhou Jiren... Gu Shen scratched his head, suddenly finding the name strangely familiar.

"Neither of us has any right to lecture the other. I leave, and you show up right after." Mr. Shu leaned back lazily and smiled. "Rushing to Da Teng City overnight to interrogate Gu Shen isn't exactly aboveboard either, is it? You have your schemes, and I have my ways. When it comes to snatching people... it's all about who's more capable. Besides, you've lost to me more than once. You should be used to it by now, shouldn't you?"

The veins at the Tribunal Head's temples throbbed faintly.

"You should understand what the deaths of those two Transcendents on the rooftop last night mean." He suddenly looked at Gu Shen, changing the subject. "On the charge of Transcendent Out of Control, I can throw him straight into prison right now."

Gu Shen: "???"

Hey, hey, hey... When immortals fought, mortals suffered. This was not the first time he had gotten caught in the crossfire, was it?

"Is that so?" The elderly man in the Zhongshan suit remained composed. "You and I both know that a Transcendent awakening is an uncontrollable event... This boy has displayed tremendous potential. On humanitarian grounds, the Federation should show him mercy."

"Humanitarian grounds? I'm discussing federal law with you!" The Tribunal Head refused to yield an inch. "Under Article Thirteen of the Security Act, I can assign people to monitor him around the clock and impose restrictive measures if necessary!"

"Gu Shen fought back in self-defense. At most, it was excessive self-defense."

"The fact that Gu Shen killed someone is beyond dispute. The Prison Institute and the Extraordinary Tribunal must assess the details before judging this case... Old Fellow, you should know that your Adjudication Court only has law-enforcement authority over Transcendent incidents." Having gained the upper hand, the Tribunal Head looked smugly at his old rival.

"Perhaps... you're right."

After pondering for a moment, Mr. Shu shrugged. As he gave up the argument, a sly smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Zhou Jiren looked at Gu Shen and spoke regretfully. "See that? That's the Prison Institute's true face—threats, inducements, and endless schemes. It doesn't feel good to be treated like an object, does it? Gu Shen, if you had another chance, would you really choose to join them?"

The Tribunal Head's expression changed.

During their argument, he had instinctively attacked his opponent and had somewhat forgotten his original purpose.

Gu Shen's face had gone pale, sweat trickling down his forehead.

He only cared about one thing now. If the Tribunal Head was right... what kind of fate awaited him?

"If it weren't for the Amnesty Decree, this great villain might have gotten his way!"

Seeing the boy's tense expression, Mr. Shu suddenly burst out laughing and gave Gu Shen's shoulder a firm pat. "Relax. You're a genius the Adjudication Court fought so hard to secure. How could we possibly stand by and do nothing?"

"Amnesty Decree?"

Gu Shen was not the only one stunned. Even the Tribunal Head froze for a moment.

Mr. Shu took out a long, rectangular token engraved with a Golden Wheat Ear and held it before Yan Shicheng once more. "Hey, hey, hey, be careful. This isn't a copy this time. There's only one of these, so don't damage it... Do you know how hard it is to get an Amnesty Decree from the Council?"

The Tribunal Head looked at the Golden Wheat Ear token, then at Zhou Jiren.

He opened his mouth, but could not say a single word.

He knew all too well just how difficult it was to obtain an Amnesty Decree...

The East Continent Council had only twenty seats. To obtain an Amnesty Decree, at least one councilor had to stake his reputation on a guarantee, after which every seat in the East Continent Council voted on it. Only with approval from more than half could the decree be granted.

That meant the great figures of the East Continent Council had already heard the name "Gu Shen."

The issuance of an Amnesty Decree meant that the great figures at the top of the Eastern Continent had forgiven this boy.

Perhaps it was out of consideration for one of them.

But whatever the reason... this case had truly reached its end.

Was it worth it for this boy?

The Tribunal Head's expression turned solemn. His gaze at Zhou Jiren shifted from confusion to gradual respect. Though he could not understand it, Zhou Jiren had truly gone all out to snatch this man.

His loss was not unjustified.

Gu Shen was still utterly bewildered. In all his more than ten years of life, he had never heard of an Amnesty Decree... But from the Tribunal Head's expression, he could vaguely tell that it was something extraordinary.

Seeing the Tribunal Head's flagging momentum, Gu Shen thought nervously, Did it work? Did it work?

Yan Shicheng gathered the scattered documents one by one. The stacked papers trembled lightly against the tabletop. Someone let out a long sigh as this battle, fraught with hidden hostility, finally came to an end.

Gu Shen was delighted.

Did this mean he had successfully bought back his freedom?

The victorious Old Fellow beamed from ear to ear. His arm had gone stiff from holding it up, yet he still kept the Amnesty Decree pressed before the other man's forehead and loudly asked a question he already knew the answer to. "Still haven't had enough? I'm taking it back soon."

"Get lost, get lost, get lost."

The Tribunal Head's face darkened as he impatiently pushed away the heavy wheat-ear token.

He said meaningfully, "Gu Shen, from this moment on, you are free."

After a pause.

"And... don't take what I said earlier to heart." Yan Shicheng stood, documents tucked under his arm. The elderly man's slightly stooped back could straighten as straight as a sword. In a formal, solemn tone, he congratulated him, "Congratulations on joining the Adjudication Court. I hope that one day, you will shine brightly... Though we passed each other by today, we will eventually become comrades."

Zhou Jiren narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly. He reached out and patted Gu Shen on the back.

Gu Shen hurriedly sprang to his feet and shook hands with the Tribunal Head.

After the handshake.

The Tribunal Head hesitated, but ultimately turned back and spoke seriously to his old rival. "You actually used an Amnesty Decree for a newcomer. As expected of you—still as bold as ever... But the Adjudication Court is not peaceful. Zhu Wang and his people have been eyeing your position, and there will be plenty of disputes at the Council. You must be careful."

Mr. Shu smiled and nodded.

The interrogation room door opened.

Wei Shu, who had been waiting for a long time, perked up. Once the surveillance was shut off, no one knew the final outcome of the interrogation.

Would Gu Shen be detained?

Although this boy was sly, treacherous, and full of schemes, Wei Shu hoped he would receive a good outcome... Wei Shu knew very well that once someone was imprisoned by the Prison Institute, life afterward would be miserable.

But Yan Shicheng, the Qinghe District Tribunal Head, was famously cold and merciless. He was known as the iron-blooded bulwark of East Continent Law. Since he had personally presided over this interrogation, the result would likely be... severe.

But unexpectedly.

When the Tribunal Head left the interrogation room, a faint smile still lingered on that ferocious, scarred face.

Though it lasted only an instant before returning to cold indifference, Wei Shu was certain he had not imagined it.

The Tribunal Head, who had always been so cold-faced... had actually smiled?

"Go."

The elderly man with the straight back adjusted his peaked cap. Before leaving, he did not look back even once. He said only that one word, then departed with the grand procession of the jury.

That single word—go—

Was the final result of this interrogation—

Gu Shen, not guilty!